Bulls' Hinrich out of Game 7

The injury-depleted Chicago Bulls were forced to play Game 7 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets without point guard Kirk Hinrich.

The veteran missed his third straight game on Saturday night with a bruised left calf. He tried to warm up before the deciding game in Brooklyn but was ruled out. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said Hinrich was "not quite there" in his recovery.

The Bulls also were missing forward Luol Deng, who was in a Chicago hospital on Saturday after fluid leakage from a spinal tap to test for meningitis earlier this week caused severe headaches and weakness. Deng also missed Game 6 in the series.

Nate Robinson was forced to carry the load at the point for the Bulls and Marco Belinelli also was expected to play extended minutes in Hinrich's absence.

The Bulls-Nets winner advances to face Miami in the second round of the playoffs on Monday.